Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-07

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The graph below gives information about the number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the US between 1960 and 2020.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the US, 1960-2020

Student answer (Band 8.0)

The line graph illustrates the changes in employment figures across four economic sectors in the United States: Manufacturing, Retail, Healthcare, and Agriculture from 1960 to 2020, measured in millions of jobs.

Overall, Healthcare and Retail experienced consistent upward trajectories throughout the 60-year period, with Healthcare exhibiting the most dramatic rise. Conversely, Manufacturing saw initial growth before experiencing a steady decline, while Agriculture remained the smallest employer with a slight downward drift.

In 1960, Manufacturing was by far the largest provider of jobs at 15 million, peaking at 20 million in 1980. However, this sector subsequently contracted, dropping to 17 million in 2000 and eventually falling to 13 million by 2020. In contrast, Retail started at 6 million in 1960 and climbed steadily over the decades, overtaking Manufacturing around 2015 to reach 16 million by the end of the timeframe.

Healthcare began as the smallest sector in 1960 alongside Agriculture, offering only 2 million jobs. Over the following six decades, Healthcare witnessed substantial and uninterrupted expansion, matching Manufacturing at approximately 14 million jobs in 2015 and concluding at 16 million in 2020. Conversely, Agriculture started at 6 million jobs in 1960, dipped sharply to 3 million in 1980, and then slowly diminished to finish at just under 2 million in 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response is excellent and fully addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the trends and effectively selected key data points to support your description. The comparison between sectors is well-integrated, particularly the observation regarding Retail overtaking Manufacturing. The data is accurate, and the report is well-structured, covering all four sectors across the specified timeframe. You have successfully identified the main features and trends, such as the dramatic rise in Healthcare and the decline in Agriculture, which demonstrates a high level of analytical skill.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving from an overview to specific details about the sectors. Cohesive devices such as 'Conversely', 'In contrast', and 'However' are used effectively to signal shifts in the narrative and comparisons between the data points. The paragraphing is logical and contributes to the overall clarity of the report. The flow of information is smooth, making the text very easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a wide and precise range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic report. Phrases such as 'upward trajectories', 'dramatic rise', 'subtly contracted', and 'uninterrupted expansion' show a sophisticated command of language. The word choices are accurate and enhance the clarity of the data description. There are no noticeable errors in spelling or word formation, and the terminology used is consistently relevant to the topic of economic sectors and employment trends.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The writing displays a wide range of grammatical structures with high accuracy. You use complex sentences effectively, such as 'Healthcare began as the smallest sector in 1960 alongside Agriculture, offering only 2 million jobs.' The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is used correctly throughout. There is a good balance between simple and complex structures, and the control over verb tenses is consistent with the historical nature of the data provided.

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